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THE COLLECTION OF 
NORTH CAROLINIANA 


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This book may be kept out one month unless a recall 
notice is sent to you. It must be brought to the North 
Carolina Collection (in Wilson Library) for renewal. — 


THE HOUR AND THE DUTY. 


ADDRESS 


BELIVERED BY 


HON. J. C. PRITCHARD 


OF ASHEVILLE, N. C. 


AT A PATRIOTIC MEETING GF CITIZENS 
OF WAKE COUNTY, HELD AT RALEIGH, 
No @, SEPTEMBER ’3,: 191 eos 


PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD 
SEPTEMBER 6, 1917 


WASHINGTON 


1917 
11675—17870 


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V—_ 


ADDRESS 


BY 


HON. JG 2oP Rage Caan 


Mr. POU. Mr. Speaker, under the leave granted to me to 
extend my remarks in the Rrcorp, I include a speech delivered 
by Wx-Senator Pritchard upon the question of patriotism and 
the duty of the American citizen in this hour. 

The speech is as follows: 

THE HOUR AND THE DUTY. 

I esteem it an honor te have the privilege of addressing this 
representative audience composed of the citizens of Wake 
County. It is peculiarly fitting that these exercises sheuld be 
held on Labor Day and under the joint auspices of the Wake 
County Council of Defense and the labor organizations of the 
city. Weare here to do honor to the 304 selected men who have 
enlisted for service in the most gigantie military struggle the 
world Las ever witnessed. In this connection I deem it appro- 
priate to say that the laboring men of the Nation have always 
been true and loyal te our Government, and have borne its 
burdens on many bioody battle fields where the Stars and 
Stripes have triumphed and our heroes have won imperishable 
fame. Labor and capital appreciate now perhaps more than 
ever before the importance of living under a Government strong 
enough to protect human life and property rights in any emer- 
gency that may arise. I can not resist the temptation to discuss 
briefly the relation the citizen sustains to our Government, and 
the importance of such relation to the general welfare of the 
American people. 

We can not ignore the fact that during the past few years 
there have been many evidences of unrest and an inclination on 
the part of many to oppose what may be properly termed “ duly 
constituted authority.” This in the main is due to a failure 
on the part of parents to give their children proper training 
at a time when their minds are in a formative state and when 
they may be easily taught the importance of becoming useful 
and patriotic citizens. 

Under a republican form of government like ours. these who 
maintain and support it are recruited from the home, -‘There- 
fore the maintenance and perpetuation of our Government and 
its institutions depend largely upon the character of the home. 
Many of our parents fail to appreciate the responsibility that 
rests upon them as respects this vital question. “A stream can 
rise no higher than its source” and a government no higher than 
the plane of its citizenship. Therefore it is important that a 
parent should exercise the greatest care in training his boy for 
the performance of the duties that must necessarily in the near 
future devolve upon him as a citizen of this country. The parent 
who enjoys all the rights, privileges, and immunities of the 
Constitution and the laws passed in pursuance thereof for his 
well-being and protection owes to his country the duty of rear- 

2 11675—17870 


3 


ing his sons so that they may grow up to be useful, God-fearing, 
and patriotic citizens. The disposition to violate the law grows 
out of an improper regard for the constituted authorities of the 
State and the Nation. 

We are now engaged in a conflict which from the very nature 
of things must eventually affect the welfare of every civilized 
nation of the world. It should be constantly borne in mind that 
this is not a war of our choosing, and that it was with deep 
regret that we were finally impelled to take the step which 
imposed upon as as a Nation the obligation to aid in the rescue 
of those who are being destroyed by the most brutal and in- 
human methods ever resorted to by any race of men from the 
dawn of creation until this good hour. 

Many reasons have been assigned in support of the action of 
Congress and the President. Some say that it is our purpose to 
make democracy safe for the world, others that it is to wipe 
out Prussianism and militarism, and still ethers that.it is ts 
avenge the wrongs committed against Belgium by the Imperial 
German Government. All must admit that the President dis- 
played great patience and forbearance before final action was 
taken. He employed all legitimate means within his power in 
an honest effort to keep the American people out of this awful 
conflict. Indeed, there were many well-meaning people in beth 
political parties who criticized the President for not taking 
definite action sooner than he did. 

Now that we are face to face with the stern realities of war 
and the direful consequences that must come to those involved, 
we can all the more appreciate the feelings which actuated the 
President in endeavoring to avoid, if possible, the necessity of 
calling upon the young manhood of America to take up arms in 
defense of what all fair-minded people must admit is a just 
eause. While it is true that there was strong opposition in the 
ranks of both political parties to a declaration of war, after 
Congress acted the President had, and now has, the unanimous 
support of every patriotic American, regardless of his political 
or religious views. Therefore, in so far as this war is con- 
cerned, we are neither Democrats nor Republicans, but Ameri- 
ean citizens. This is the spirit which flashed from the lips of 
Patrick Henry in the Continental Congress, when he said, “I 
am not a Virginian, but an American.” 

This is not the war of any individual, but it is a war in which 
every American who has red blood in his veins and who honestly 
desires to safeguard his own Government should be interested, 
and he should be willing to support it with the same zeal and 
courage which actuated Washington and other Revolutionary 
heroes when the foundations of our Government were being 
made secure. An overwhelming majority of the representatives 
of both political parties in Congress are to-day standing like a 
stone wall behind the Government, doing everything in their 
power to secure the enactment of any legislation that may be 
necessary for the successful conduct of the war. 

It is with pride that we point to the fact that the American 
peopie have never failed to support their Government in the past, 
and those who attempt in this trying hour, by any means what- 
soever, to embarrass the Government in its efforts to bring this 
war to a successful termination, should, if their conduct warrants 
it, be indicated, and if convicted their punishment should he 

11675—17870 


4 


such as to warn all slackers that their presence is a menace to 
the welfare of this country. It is high time that this issue 
should be so clearly drawn that no one, however indifferent he 
may be, could possibly misunderstand the attitude of our Goy- 
ernment. As our distinguished governor recently said in a speech 
delivered at Asheville, there was a time when the question as to 
the propriety of declaring war against Germany was debatable 
one, but that day is past, and further discussion of the question is 
extremely harmful and should not be tolerated. 

The whole world is overshadowed with gloom, and our own 
land is saddened in consequence of the fact that our brave boys 
are called upon to engage in this terrible conflict fer the purpose 
of proteeting American rights and rendering aid to suffering 
humanity. Notwithstanding this condition, there are some who 
are doing all in their power to embarrass the President in his 
efforts to bring the war to a successful termination. 

The only way to successfully meet those who are disloyal is to 
instill in the minds of the people lessons of patriotism and 
devotion to America and her institutions. Let us, therefore, cul- 
tivate a spirit of patriotism and respect for the majesty of the 
Constitution and the laws passed in pursuance thereof. 

The disposition in certain quarters to denounce the courts and 
criticise those who are charged with the administration of the 
law has a tendency to weaken the faith of the people in the 
stability of our Government. Notwithstanding the critical con- 
dition of the affairs of the Nation at this time, some have dared 
even to go so far as to unjustly criticise the President, and in 
the past this same class of people have impugned the motives 
of the Supreme Court—the highest court in the land—the last 
resort of the people. 

This sentiment has been nurtured and developed by the dem- 
agogue who is willing to assail the very foundation of the Gov- 
ernment in order that he may succeed in his political aspirations. 
The courts are not above legitimate criticism, and when a judge 
acts improperly he should be criticised, and if his conduct war- 
rants it, he should be impeached, but there should be no whole- 
sale denunciation of the courts, and those who attempt by such 
methods to bring discredit upon any branch of the Government 
should be taught by the American people that the doctrines which 
they teach can never flourish on American soil. 

The late ex-President Cleveland, in an address delivered at 
Princeton, September 19, 1901, in referring to the death of the 
lamented McKinley, said: 


There is a serious lesson for us all in the tragedy of our late Presi- 
dent’s death. The shock of it is so great that it is hard at this time 
to read the lesson calmly. We can hardly fail to see, however, behind 
the bloody deed of the assassin, the horrible faces and figures from which 
it will not do to turn away. If we are to escape further attack upon 
our peace and security we must boldly and resolutely grapple with the 
monster of anarchy. It is a thing that we can not safely leave to be 
dealt with by party or partisanship. Nothing can guarantee us against 
its menace except the teaching and practice of the best citizenship ; the 
exposure of the ends and aims of the gospel of discontent and hatred 
as social order and-the brave enactment and execution of repressive 
aws. 


These are words of wisdom, spoken by one of the greatest 
statesmen of his age, and the lesson which he sought to teach 
should be constantly borne in mind by every patriotic citizen. 
This is, indeed, a land of liberty, but it is not a land of license, 

11675—17870 


5 


and the sooner the lawless classes understand the true situation 
the better it will be for all parties concerned. The individual 
who believes in dynamite rather than reason and who is willing 
to resort to unlawful methods to further his ends, and is not 
willing to support his Government under any and all circum- 
stances, should find no welcome in this free land of ours. The 
enemies of this country and the demagogue have much in ccm- 
mon, and the one is as dangerous as the other, and each should 
be spurned by the American people. 

I do not wish to be understood as intimating that an appre- 
ciable number of North Carolinians are unfaithful to the Govern- 
ment at this time. I believe that North Carolina in this struggle 
will do her full duty, and after the final muster roll is made up 
we will find that we have sent as many soldiers to the front in 
proportion to our population as any State in the Union. 

Now that we have entered the war, the sole and only question 
to be considered is as to the best possible methods to be emplored 
in order that we may bring success to America and her ailies. 

I do not deem it necessary to enter into a discussion of the 
merits of any controversy that may have existed anterior to 
the declaration of war further than to say that I consider any 
one of the following reasons sufficient ground upen which to 
base our action: (a) Our duty to uphold the neutrality of 
Belgium under a treaty to which we are a party; (b) to resent 
the unwarranted interference with our rights as a Nation upon 
the high seas; (c) to take active and effective steps to suppress 
what may be properly termed the most brutai and uncivilized 
slaughter of human beings that has ever been known in the 
history of the world; (d) to secure at the end of the hostilities, 
by the concerted action of all the nations of the world, a per- 
manent peace by the creation of a beard of arbitration to which 
all matters in controversy in the future between nations may be 
submitted and amicably adjusted without the destruction of 
property or the loss ef human life. 

We can maintain either one of these grounds without violating 
the principles of Christianity. This is the spirit whch prompts 
the Nation to call her splendid young manhood to arms in order 
that we may demonstrate to the world that our Government is 
founded upon the principles of justice and righteousness, which 
are as permanent as the rock-of Gibraltar. 

Long anterior to the declaration of war against Germany, and 
at a time when we were observing strict neutrality as a Nation, 
a warning was issued purporting to come from a representative 
of the Imperial German Government and published in the lead- 
ing newspapers of this country in which it was boldly stated 
that if any Americans should attempt to cross the Atlantic upon 
the Lusitania they would do so at their own peril. That this 
warning emanated from the German Government is Clearly estab- 
lished by the fact that the Lusitania, with all of her human 
freight, consisting in part of men, women, and little children, 
who were born on American soil, and therefore entitled to the 
fullest protection of this Government, was, without warning 
to such citizens or giving them an opportunity to escape, sent 
to the bottom of the ocean by a German submarine. The sink- 
ing of that ill-fated vessel in defiance of every principle of inter- 
national law and the rules of civilized warfare was sufficier 

11675—17870 


6 


within itself to justify the American Government in dedlaring 
war against Germany. _ 

When we contemplate the destruction of human life and prop- 
erty by Germany and her allies in France, and the consequent 
privation and suffering of her people at this time, we are force- 
fully reminded of the timely and effective service France ren- 
dered this country when our existence as a nation was trembling 
in the balance. Under these circumstances anyone with a spark 
of gratitude in his soul must admit that it is our bounden duty 
to go to the rescue of the descendants of Lafayette and Rocham- 
beau and the other gallant sons of France who left their native 
land and joined with the American forces in our struggle to 
become a free and independent people. If no other reason ex- 
isted, this alone would amply justify us in sending all the men 
and money necessary to drive the invader from French soil and 
restore to the people of that unhappy land the territory which 
has been so unjustly taken from them by methods heretofore 
unknown in warfare among civilized people. 

In condemning the Kaiser and his associates I do not wish to 
be understood as impugning in the slightest degree the loyalty 
and patriotism of the Germans who are residents of this coun- 
try, feeling as I do that with few exceptions they are just as 
loyal to this country as those of us who are native born. 

It is not our purpose in entering this contest to demand in- 
demnity or to acquire a foot of territory by conquest. Such has 
always been our policy. The great domain which we possess 
came to us not through bloody conquest nor by the violation of 
the rights of another nation. The policy of this country in its 
war against Spain is the most conspicucus example of the gener- 
ous treatment of one nation by another, under similar circum- 
stances, in the history of the world. 

We not only purchased and paid for the Philippine Islands, 
but gave them schools, churches, modern methods of sanitation, 
and, indeed, everything necessary to encourage the moral and 
intellectual development of the people of those islands, and now 
after the lapse of a comparatively short time they are as free as 
the people of the United States. The same policy was adopted 
as respects Cuba and Porto Rico, with the result that the people 
of each of those countries are living together in peace and happi- 
ness and making rapid development in everything that tends 
toward a higher civilization, and it is in harmony with this well- 
established policy that we extend a helping hand to our allies 
across the sea. 

The conduct of Germany threatens not only the existence of 
good government in HKurope but, if by any chance they shou'id 
win, it will in the near future result in the overthrow of rep- 
resentative government on every part of the globe, including 
the Government under which we live. It has been well said 
that “ Hternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” May I not 
paraphrase this statement by saying that eternal vigilance on 
our part is necessary to insure the continued safety of our own 
Government? With this end in view we should at all times 
in the future maintain a trained force sufficient to command 
the respeet of the other nations of the earth and as a guaranty 
that no nation will ever have the audacity to even attempt to 
violate the rights of the American people. ; 

11675—17870 


7 


The cruel and heartless treatment of those who have been 
so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of the German soldiers 
Clearly indicates the spirit which actuates them in the war 
which they are waging for the purpose of dominating the people 
of every nation on the face of the earth. Existing conditions 
are such as to arouse the spirit of intense patriotism in the 
breast of every citizen of this country, and this should not abate 
until we wipe from every inch of soil now occupied by the Ger- 
mans the last vestige of military oppression. It has always 
been the policy of America to do everything in her power to 
aid the oppressed of other lands, and by so doing we have not 
only gained prestige abroad but have greatly strengthened our 
own Government. 

If as a result of this conflict a republican form of government 
for the peopie of Germany should be established, it weuld be 
hailed with delight by everyone who has the slightest interest 
in the progress and development of the human race: but, as I 
understand, it was not our purpose in entering this confiict to 
force the people of that country to adept any particular form 
of government, our real purpose being, -as the President has so 
ably said— 

To deliver the free people of the world from the menace and actual 
power of a vast military establishmert controlled by an irresponsible 
Government, which, haying secretly planned to dominate the world, pro- 
ceeded to carry the plan out without regard either to the sacred obli- 
gations of treaty or the long-established practices and long-cherished 
principles of international action and henor: which chose its own time 
for the war; delivered its blow fiercely and suddenly: stopped at no 
Larrier either of law or mercy; swept a whole continent within the 
tide of blood—not the blood of soldiers only but the blood of innocent 
women and children and of the helpless poor. 

Many people have an exaggerated idea as to the number of 
killed and wounded in this war. In this connection I will say 
that my distinguished friend, Hon. James H. Pou, of this city, 
has rendered the State and the Nation a splendid service by 
showing that the percentage is not near so great as we have 
been led to believe by the reports that have been sent out in- 
discriminately through the press. Indeed, some people seem 
to take peculiar pleasure in circulating reports calculated to 
discourage the American soldiers and our people generally. 

Now. a2 word as to those who will be permitted to stay at 
home and pursue their daily vocations, which involves an over- 
whelming majority of our people. While those of us who fall 
within the exempted class are to enjoy this privilege, there 
are many things that we can do to aid our Government in the 
Herculean task that it has undertaken. We should at all times 
act in harmony with the policy of our President as respects 
the conservation of foodstuffs and other things essential to the 
support of the Government and the forces in the field. 

The generous conduct of our good women in the preparation 
of articles necessary to the comfort of the sick and wounded 
challenges the admiration of everyone who loves his country. 
The Red Cross is doing most effective work in sending those 
things that are essential to the welfare and comfort of those 
who may be sick and wounded on foreign soil, and, best of all, 
they are sending angels of mercy in the person of nurses who 
go as our representatives to minister to the wants. of our brave 
boys. This should appeal directly to the heart of every human 

11675—1787T0 


8 


being who possesses that generous instinct that has always 
characterized the American people in the face of every great 
calamity. ‘ 

Our hearts are filled with sadness when we realize that our 
dear boys will scon be cailed upon to fight on foreign soil, but 
I confidently believe that we will receive good reports from 
them; that they will make a record as soldiers that will chal- 
lenge the admiration of the world. I trust that our young 
men will not forget that the most important thing in life is 
to maintain a good character under any and all circumstances, 
and I confidently believe that the conduct of our boys while 
abroad will be such as to develop those traits essential to true 
manhood. 

The American soldier has never turned his back to any foe, 
and I verily believe that the indomitable courage and will power 
which has always characterized our boys will soon bring this 
war to a speedy termination. When the descendants of those 
who fought with Grant, Sheridan, Lee, Jackson, Wheeler, aud 
Shafter touch elbows, inspired by the strains of Yankee 
Doodle and Dixie, with anything like a fair opportunity to 
show what the American soldier can do, the Kaiser and those 
who are really in sympathy with him will rue the day they con- 
‘ceived the plan of dominating the world by brute force. 

After the awful struggle is over and our boys are permitted 
to return to their native land we want them to know that their 
services will be recognized by the American people and that 
they will be largely instrumental in shaping the future «es- 
tiny of this country. 

The American flag and the many things that it stands for 
should be their constant thought. Let them cherish this glori- 
ous emblem of our liberty, to which Dr. Edward Everett Hale 
has so beautifully referred in the following language: 


And for your country, boy, and for that flag, never dream but of sery- 
ing her as she bids you. No matter what happens to you, no matter 
who flatters you or abuses you, never look at another flag. Remember, 
that behind all these men you have to do with, behind officers, and 
Government, and people even, there is the country herself, your country, 
and that you belong to her as you do belong to your own mother. Stand 
by her as you would stand by your own mother. 


11675—17870 


O 


